Children are increasingly using computer technologies to engage in acts of aggression against peers, often termed "cyber aggression". Media reports have sensationalized instances of cyber aggression, and social scientists have begun to examine its characteristics and consequences. Using a younger sample of children than most previous research (192…

This paper reports the perspectives of male trainees on mechanisms instituted to support them during their Post-Graduate Certificate of Education in Early Years and Primary Education in England. The male trainees were interviewed towards the end of their training, using semi-structured interviews that provided scope for pursuing several lines of…

Classroom peer perceptions of 18 teacher-nominated hyperactive and 18 teacher-nominated active but normal elementary school-age boys were compared. Results indicated that hyperactives were significantly different from actives on all sociometric measures in that they were perceived more negatively. (Author/SB)

Compared peer appraisals of hyperactive boys (N=40) after taking either placebo or 0.3 mg/kg or 0.6 mg/kg methylphenidate (Retaline). Found methylphenidate enhanced social standing but did not normalize peer appraisals. Found marked inter-individual variability in medication response. (Author/CM)

Fourth and fifth grade boys who were or were not rejected by peers reported how they would handle conflictual interactions described in vignettes. Rejected boys who were aggressive or residual, that is, neither aggressive nor submissive, exhibited less integration of personal and relational goals than did nonrejected boys. (BC)

Play interactions between six male autistic children (aged 8 to 12 years), younger normally developing kindergarten children, and nonhandicapped same-age peers resulted in gains for all (subjects were only those autistic children (6) observed; their autistic classmates were not observed) subjects in proximity, orientation, and responsiveness when…

Examines children's cognitive phases by describing the role that distinctiveness and consistency information play in the causal attributions and behavior of peer-rejected and aggressive children. Correlates the existence of social information and lack of social information to the response style. (RJC)

A study examined peer relationships that developed between three males with disabilities and their peers during kindergarten/Grade 1 and during upper elementary grades. Children with disabilities were selected as playmates during both time periods and some play activities and social behaviors were similar to those of typical peers. (Contains…

A total of 95 boys between 6 and 12 years of age were assigned to 1 of 4 groups based on the presence or absence of aggression and rejection and were assessed for conduct problems, sociability, and adaptability to peer expectations. Discusses the distinct problem profiles that emerged. (MDM)

Sociometric and activity questionnaires were administered using a sample of 28 learning disabled (LD) boys (ages 6-13) enrolled in private school. Results suggested that the LD population is sociometrically heterogeneous. Popularity was found to be significantly related to informal get-togethers with friends, but not to levels of participation in…

In this study, questions regarding the prevalence of mutual antipathies and their relation to the behavior of individual children were examined among preadolescents and adolescents. Mutual antipathies were defined as relationships in which children mutually nominated one another as least liked on a sociometric task. A distinction was drawn between…

Cluster analyses were employed in two studies to explore the possibility of discernible subtypes within the population of peer-rejected boys aged 9-11. Consistent patterns were seen in both studies when children in each cluster were compared with each other and with those in a popular comparison group. (RJC)

Examines popularity's role in the gender socialization of elementary school children. Explains that children model their behavior based upon idealized male and female images. Concludes that boys attain popularity because of athletic ability, toughness, cross-gender relational skill, while girls obtain popularity because of attractiveness, social…

Noting that a child's peer competence and sociometric status not only are important indices of the child's current social functioning, but may also predict adolescent adaptation, this study examined the antecedents in peer competence and sociometric status in early and late elementary school years of five peer reputation dimensions. These five…

Defined peer-rated, narrow-band dimensions of undercontrolled behavior of 362 third through sixth grade boys that was associated with peer rejection. Results revealed three narrow-band dimensions in the peer perceptions of grade school boys: (1) aggression; (2) hyperactivity; and (3) inattention-immaturity. (SH)